November is Pancreatic Cancer awareness month.
The following are a few facts provided by http://www.pancan.org:
-The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 by three visionaries
Types of Pancreatic Cancer
-Exocrine tumors, which are the most common accounting for 95% of pancreatic cancers. These cells aid in digestion.
-Endocrine tumors, which account for 5% or less of pancreatic cancers. These cells produce hormones that control the level of blood sugar.
Symptoms
-There are usually no symptoms in the early stages, making it a “silent” disease
-Symptoms that do commonly occur include jaundice, abdominal and/or back pain, unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
Risks
-Smoking
-Age
-Family History
-Chronic Pancreatitis and Hereditary Pancreatitis
-Race (Ethnicity)
-Gender
-Diabetes
-Diet
-Obesity
-Physical Inactivity
Treatment
-Surgery
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
-Biological Therapies
-Alternative Therapies
Statistics (Provided by The American Cancer Society)
-Nearly 22,050 men and 21,980 women will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year
-Roughly 19,360 men and 18,300 women will pass away this year from the disease
Road Scholar Transport Awareness Program
-Road Scholar has taken pancreatic cancer awareness to the next level, painting an 80,000 lb. tractor trailer purple, displaying the disease’s trademark purple ribbon and stars while traveling nationwide on a road to a cure.
Visit http://www.roadscholarawareness.org to learn more about our awareness campaign.
